RNC Hits Obama Over Auschwitz Claim, Obama Camp Responds

CNN: The Republican National Committee accused Barack Obama Tuesday of a lack of judgment after the Illinois senator mistakenly stated that his uncle helped liberate the Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz while serving in the American military during World War II.

In fact, that concentration camp was liberated by Soviet soldiers in 1945.

Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton released a statement later Tuesday clarifying the remarks, saying the Illinois senator meant to refer to the Buchenwald camp, which American soldiers did liberate. Obama was also apparently referring to his great uncle.

“Senator Obama’s family is proud of the service of his grandfather and uncles in World War II – especially the fact that his great uncle was a part of liberating one of the concentration camps at Buchenwald. Yesterday he mistakenly referred to Auschwitz instead of Buchenwald in telling of his personal experience of a soldier in his family who served heroically,” Burton said.